Trauma affects individuals and families across all backgrounds and communities, including Johnson County. Having a deeper understanding of trauma and implementing effective prevention and recovery strategies can help build resilience and promote well-being.

The Johnson County Prevention and Recovery Coalition has created this resource guide to help our community better understand the root causes of trauma and how it impacts our lives, while also highlighting the importance of resilience and providing tools to support healing and recovery.

Every five years, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment collaborates with Johnson County residents, partners and community leaders to conduct a Community Health Assessment.

The assessment helps us better understand the root causes of trauma in our community and real-life impacts trauma has on individuals, families and neighborhoods throughout Johnson County.

• Mental health challenges and suicide risk: Trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are strongly connected to depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation and suicidality. Johnson County has seen significant concern around suicide deaths and increasing behavioral health needs, especially among youth and adults in crisis.
• Substance use and addiction: Johnson County prevention initiatives have also identified trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as root causes of substance use and addiction. Unresolved trauma often contributes to coping through alcohol or drug use, particularly when people lack supportive relationships or early intervention.
• Relationships, behavior and community functioning: Trauma affects brain development, emotional regulation, school and social behavior, interpersonal safety and long-term stability. In Johnson County, these challenges show up through increased behavioral health crises, family instability, involvement with systems of care and challenges maintaining safe, supportive environments for vulnerable youth.

More information on the Community Health Assessment is available at HealthHappensHereJoCo.com.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are stressful or traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. ACEs can undermine a child’s sense of safety, stability and bonding and have effects that persist for years.

Common ACEs include:

• Individual Factors: brain development and chemistry, stress responses, genetics, mental health challenges and low self-esteem
• Environmental Factors: abuse, neglect, family conflict and community violence
• Societal Factors: discrimination, systemic and institutional racism, poverty and intergenerational and cultural trauma

ACEs are associated with a wide range of mental and physical health challenges, including:

• Anxiety, depression, substance use and suicide
• Cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver disease and cancer
• Obesity and diabetes

Responses to trauma can vary from person to person, as we all perceive, process and react to traumatic events in our own way. Some factors that can shape how we respond to trauma include:

• A person’s past experiences
• Genetics, brain chemistry and temperament
• Cultural beliefs and norms
• Societal stigma
• The presence of protective factors

Because we all respond to trauma differently, protective factors help us strengthen our resilience to withstand and recover from trauma. We can help foster resilience in our community by focusing on these four supports: Relationships, Environments, Engagement and Emotional Growth.

Like Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are risk factors for future physical and mental health challenges, Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) can be protective factors, building a foundation for resilience.

PCEs include:

• Feeling able to talk to your family about feelings
• Feeling your family is supportive during difficult times
• Enjoyment participating in community traditions
• Feeling a sense of belonging
• Feeling of being supported by friends
• Having at least two non-parent adults who genuinely care
• Feeling safe and protected by an adult in your home

While they are called Positive Childhood Experiences, they can happen at any time in a person’s life. Even if someone has not had those experiences in the past, it is never too late to create supportive, nurturing environments that foster healing and growth.

A parent’s experiences, especially involving trauma, can affect how they respond to stress, build relationships and support their child’s emotional needs. At the same time, healthy, supportive parenting is one of the most powerful ways to build resilience in children. By supporting parents in their own healing, we can help the next generation thrive.

Even when we care for our children, past trauma can influence how we react in certain parenting moments, including:

• Feeling easily overwhelmed or triggered by certain behaviors.
• Avoiding conflict or becoming overly strict.
• Struggling to regulate emotions during stress.
• Feeling guilt, shame or confusion after interactions.

Recognizing these responses can help parents respond with greater compassion for their children and themselves. No parent is perfect, and these moments are a natural part of parenting. What is most important is a willingness to acknowledge them and work toward repair.

No matter where you are on your parenting journey, there are resources available in Johnson County—many offered for free by Johnson County Mental Health Center—to help you and your family heal from trauma, build resilience and feel more empowered and supported.